Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-07
MAINE DISPATCHES.
THE GARDEN OF MAINE.
:. nc ~ eIlts OF Aro0stook Discussed at an
!. enthusiastic Meeting in Boston-Many
Prominent Maine Men Present.

H. BosToN, March 5.
! There twae large gathering of farmer,
and agricultural enthusiasts at the Plough
man building this morning, to hear Maine
agflculturalists discuss the merits of Aroos
took county.
.. ne attendance of representative Maine
men was large, among the number being
Governor Bodwell, Hon. VIM. Dickey Of
Fort Kent, Hon. Fred Atwood and severa
members of the State legislature and board
of Agriculture.
Hon. Daniel Needham called the meeting
to order and said that Aroostook had been
brought down to Boston for day and thai
the speakers present would show to Boston,
to New England, to America and to the
world what there is down in that county that
is worthy the attention of the young men OF
New England.
Hon. Fred Atwood of Winterport was
called to the chair and introduced L. A. Gil
bert of the Maine State Board Of Agriculture
Mr.. Gilbert said: Aroostook has peculiar
and characteristic soil, lying upon vertical
bedrock. 1t is given natural drainage
through the st. John, making it particularly
well adapted to cultivation. 1t is essentially
soil inviting to the culture of the husband
man. and the fact that it is of low money
value makes it especially inviting to the
young man just starting out in life
Governor Bodwell of Maine was the next
speaker. He said it was pleasure to meet
so many residents of his native State, of
which he felt most proud. About thirty-fiye
years ago, he said, left Massachusetts and
went to Maine with party OF men from my
native town of Methuen. The success of
that small band has been, think, as remark
able as MANY who followed the advice of
Horace Greedy and went west. He spoke OF
the opportunities the State of Maine offered
to intelligent young men and thought these
were greater even than those offered IN the
western country.
Professor Fernald of the State Agricultural
College of Massachusetts, said The soil of
this country is remarkable for its fertility.
There is a great region to be developed. The
season is certainly very short, but once un-
der way the crops mature with remarkable
rapidity. Aroostook county has never been
fully or properly advertised, and this is why
she remains undeveloped and unexplored.
Hon. Harrison Hume, formerly of East
port, salu the question OF vital Importance
today is: How shall we retain our young
men upon the farms? This is of more i'm
portance than the discussion of the merits of
Aroostook. 1t will pay the State of Maine
he said, to give every agricultural society in
Maine $4,000, to be offered to the boys of
Aroostook and Washington to stimulate and
encourage them to stay upon the farms.
Hon. William Dickey of Fort Kent. Me-,
said there was no county in Maine more in
viting for settlement than the valley of St.
John in Aroostook. A more charming or
beautiful country you cannot find The
climate is healthful and it is foolish to say
that it is so much colder IN Aroostook than
here in Boston. The winter is longer to be
sure, but with the mercury at 40 below there
it is no colder than it is here with the mer-
curry at zero. Aroostook county, he SAID,
has hardly been explored, is hardly known.
sav to the young men, come down there.
We have many beautiful French girls; they
want Yankee husbands, and l am sure they
will treat you well.
Hon. Francis Barnes of Houlton, Me-,
gave some interesting statistics concerning
the revenue of the farmers of Aroostook
county.